Umbrella.



W. K. MILLER.

UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,19.

.1 274,305. Patented July 30, 1918.

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INVENTOR WITNESS ATTORNEY UNITED TATES PATENT @FFTCE.

WILLIS K. MILLER, OF GARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

UMBRELLA.

Application filed June 20, 1917.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that iViLLis K. MILLER, a citizen of United States, residing at Carlisle, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to umbrellas, and has particular reference to umbrellas of the folding or collapsible type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an umbrella wherein the main frame elements thereof are of a telescopic and folding nature, whereby when the umbrella is not in service the same may be compactly collapsed so as to occupy but a minimum of storage space.

Another object of the invention resides in an umbrella of the above character, which, when collapsed can be readily received by an average sized traveling bag or the like, in order to facilitate in carrying or transporting the runbrella.

A further object resides in an umbrella embodying these desirable features, which will be simple to ope ate, of strong and substantial construction, light in weight and inexpensive to manufacture.

iVith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth in the following description, the scope of which being indicated by the appended claims.

In the draw ing- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an umbrella frame embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the frame in a collapsed position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the internal construction of the lower sections of the umbrella staff, and the cooperating runner.

Fig. i is a similar view, illustrating the upper and lower sections of the staff in a collapsed position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the rule joint construction of the folding rib members, and their associated parts, and

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse sectional view, taken along the line 66 of Fig.

The umbrella A, comprising the preferred form of the present invention embodies a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1918.

Serial No. 175,884.

stall 1, the latter being formed of a plurality of telescopic sections 2 and 3, the section 2 forming the upper and outer section and the section 3 the lower or inner section. A. handle section 4t is detachably secured to the lower end of the inner section 3, by providing the latter with a springactuated thumb catch 5 which, when the handle section is passed over the lower extremity of said inner section, will engage with a slot 6 formed in the upper end of the handle section, so that the zwcidental disengagement of the sections 3 and i will be effectively prevented. The lower end of the section 3 fits tightly within the upper tubular end of the section 1, thereby providing a rigid and substantial connection between said sections. The lower end of the handle section may, of course, be formed in any preferred manner.

Slidable over the inner section 3 is a runner 7, which is provided with the usual ring 8 for pivotally securing the inner extremities of braces 9 to the runner. The outer extremities of the braces are pivotally connected with sliding tubular elements 10, movable over the cover-carrying ribs 1], of the umbrella. The ribs in turn have their inner extremities pivotally associated with a fixed ring 12, carried upon the upper end of the section 2. Thus when the runner is moved upwardly upon the section 3, the ribs will be extended to open the umbrella, and conversely, upon the downward movement of the runner the ribs will be oscillated to a folded position, as is common in umbrella construction.

The runner 7 is capable of being retained in its lowermost position by providing the same with an annular shoulder 12, which is adapted to cooperate with a locking catch 13, carried by the section 3.

The catch includes a resilient shank portion 14:, secured within the tubular interior of the section 3, and terminates in an enlarged runner-engaging extremity, which protrudes through a slot 15 formed in said lower section, whereby when the runner is retracted said extremity will engage with the shoulder 12 to prevent uncontrolled movement on part of said runner. A leaf spring 16, mounted within the section 3, engages with the catches 5 and 13, and serves to augment the resiliency of the latter. The runner 7 may be released from engagement with the catch 13, by providing the latter with an offset thumb-engaging lug 17 the latter extending exteriorly of the section 3 so as to be conveniently manipulated by the thumb of an operator. By depressing the lug the catch 13 will be moved inwardly, thus releasing the runner so as to permit the latter to be elevated.

A resilient latch 18 is securely mounted Within the section 3 contiguous to the upper end of the=latter, and is provided with an enlarged portion, which extends through a slot formed in said section. Thus when the runner is fully elevated, so as to extend the ribs 11, said latch will automatically engage with the under edge of the shoulder 12 so as to retain the runner in its elevated position. The resiliency of the latch is aided by use of a leaf spring 19 mounted within the section 3. To release the runner from engagement with the latch 18, the latter is pressed inwardly so that it will clear the runner, thus permitting the latter to be readily retracted.

The outer or upper end of the section 3 is provided with a second latch 20, which is a similar in construction and operation to the latch 18, and is provided with an enlarged portion, which extends through a slot formed in the section. When the outer section 2 is extended, the latch 20 engages with the loWer edge thereof, so as to prevent undue downward movement of the section 2, however, when it is desired to diminish the length ofthe staff, the latches 20 and 18 are successively depressed, thuspermitting the inner section 3 to telescope within the outer section 2, thereby materially effecting a considerable reduction in the length of the staff. This feature may be further accomplished by detaching the handle section 1 from the lower end of the section 3. A bead is formed upon the lower end of the section 2 to limit its upward movement.

mitting of a great reduction in the general length of the ribs.

The sliding elements 10 are provided with depending ears 27 to which are pivotally secured the outer ends of the braces 9, said elements being also provided with fixed leaf springs 28, the inner free ends of the latter being formed with openings 29. Thus, when the ribs are extended, the sliding elements 10 will bemoved to positions contiguous to the rule joints 21, in order that projections 30, formed upon the inner ends of the members 20 will engage with the openings 29 ofsaid leaf springs, thereby effecting the locking of the bracestothe the positions best shown iii-Fig.4. After this operation has been completed, the-outer members 22 of the ribs arefolded to extend substantially parallel to the inner members 20, the sliding tubular elements 10 permitting of this function. Then by detaching the handle 86301310114: from the section 8, the umbrella will be reduced to its minimum size, forming a small .and compact article. A sliding cup 31 is carried by the handle section 4, and is adapted to be moved to a position to surround the lug of thecatch 1 3, in order to prevent the latter element from being accidentally actuated.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new and patentable is:

In an umbrella, a staff section, resilient catches located at spaced points thereon, a

between the catches, said runner being cone shaped at its opposite ends, one cone shaped portion being provided at oneend with an inturned shoulder and adapted to receive one catch and the other cone'shaped portion adapted to move the other catch when brought in contact with the same.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIS K. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained: for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

